I had these yummy critters last summer at Magnolia gastropub here in San Francisco. I took a picture and swore to figure out how to make them… someday. Well, that day was last night. Two major factors played into the timing. First, we got yet another pound of green beans in our farm box and had failed to use some we already had, making the hydrator unusually green bean-heavy. Second, my dashing husband had to work late. You see, while he will eat and enjoy a fried food item, he will also spend the time during which he is eating it talking about how he doesn’t like to eat fried food and tries to avoid fried food and how fried food makes him feel (a subject on which he can sometimes go into unsavory detail). He has never asked me not to fry anything, because that’s not his way. He’s not bossy like that. But he also would never just not eat the delicious item coming out of the kitchen. Nor would he ever just eat a few and not say anything. It’s just not his way. So I spared us all and never fried the green beans.
Until, of course, last night. Ernie loves green beans. I love green beans. We both have little to no problem with the fried. So I had a plan. I would make a tempura-like batter but somehow use buttermilk. Thank god I was on the phone with crispy-treat lover and cooking-question trouble shooter Juliet Glass. She is also a big fan of buttermilk. She heard “buttermilk fried” and immediately thought of chicken, which, if you weren’t already focused on the green beans would be the natural place to go with such a phrase. When you buttermilk fry chicken you soak it in buttermilk and then dredge it in flour. She suggested I do that. I did. It was good. So good that is all I had for dinner. I’m not kidding. I just had a big old plate of fried green beans sprinkled with plenty of salt. I ate and ate until I was full and then I ate nothing else. It was delightful. Ernie ate a mess of them too. Then he tucked into the can of chicken noodle soup Juliet’s son had sent him in a care package (for the no longer broken arm).
You want to hear the worst part? I ate fried green beans again for lunch today. You see, I hadn’t measured very carefully and I can’t get decent pictures in the crappy light in my kitchen after the sun goes down. So I really had to cook them again, to test them and get a good picture, don’t you know. And then there they were, all fried and golden and crispy and salty. And they seem to know my name. They called to me. Just like the Demon Lover.
Want to make them yourself? I highly recommend you do so. I posted the recipe over at Local Foods.
James Walsh | 15-Nov-08 at 3:02 pm | Permalink
I made these last night. A great idea. I really liked them and I will make them again. Next time I will make them as a kind of warm salad appetizer. I marinated the beans for a few hours in buttermilk laced with a little curry powder and some chopped garlic then I tossed them with a little tomato, garlic and olive oil. Thank you for the idea. I will be following your stuff.
James Walsh | 17-Nov-08 at 5:03 pm | Permalink
Thank you for your visit. I blanched the beans out of habit and also to make sure that they stay bright green. I really liked them. My brother will be making them next. Thank you again, I love your blog.
maggie | 18-Nov-08 at 11:42 am | Permalink
Wow—yum! What a treat.
Molly Watson | 19-Nov-08 at 5:55 pm | Permalink
James–makes sense, but I will tell you that they stay green anyway (and cook up plenty tender), so you can save yourself that extra step!
I like the idea of adding some curry powder to the proceedings. I bet that was delic!
Charmian Christie | 21-Nov-08 at 10:34 am | Permalink
I love that you ate nothing else for dinner. I thought I was the only one to do this kind of thing. I simply must give this a try.